"Change your mind or change your ways..."

So, at the last YASO I met a very interesting and inspiring man who goes by the name of Revolución MacInnes. He is homeless and resides mostly in Oak Park. This man is one of the most selfless people I've ever met. People say you can't help someone else until you help yourself. Well in some cases this is true but Rev has a way of getting him self by on just enough and then using everything else to help others, typically other homeless people. And one of the most interesting parts of this, is that he uses Twitter to help people. He has almost 2,000 followers from all over the world. He talks to people and asks them what they need, and then Tweets and gets it for them. He has gotten Vegan boots (long story), eye glasses, clothes, and even bionicles for an autistic 10 year old boy (i think that's the age) who is living in a shelter with his mom and 13(?) year old sister. 


On the surface, Rev came to YASO and talked about his life before he was homeless, and about being homeless. But he also spoke of understanding, unfairness, believing in yourself and others, loving and helping people, acceptance, and picking yourself up. He mentioned that he was bi-polar, and he rambled and he went a little scatter brained. He stumbled and repeated himself. But it was beautiful. I know of several people who related to him very well on various aspects of his life, whether it's homelessness, being bi-polar, or just a little random. We went around the room and asked people what they thought of the night and at least 5 people said that he was "one of us," or "just like us" and from where I sit, that is the highest compliment someone can receive. 

At one point he used the phrase, "I needed to be homeless." I found this so confusing. I admit, I was stuck on this phrase while he was still talking. And I don't know if I understand any more now than I did then, maybe not in the way he meant it, but I have figured out my own way of understanding it. I keep thinking of people who change their lifestyle to experience something different, life on the other side of the coin, to write a book or story. Now, I know this isn't what he's doing (although he totally could and I'd buy 20 copies just to give them to people) but the people who do learn things from these experiences. They learn about the struggles and joys of another lifestyle. People who join the peace corp, do mission work in other countries, or doctors without borders- they only get a taste of the way other people live. To BECOME is something completely different. 


Rev also has this way of making me feel like I can do anything. All my life people have said, "you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up." but there are all these stipulations. You can do this, but you have to go to college. You can do that, but you have to start here. This man is homeless. He bounces between shelters. And he is changing lives at every turn; with every conversation; every tweet. That's what I want to do. I've known for the last year and a half that I want to start a YASO whereever I am. Whether that is Chicago, Vegas, New York, Seattle or Oklahoma. Rev knew me for 4 hours, we spoke for 20 minutes total, and he was already telling me everything I could do and offering to help me do it. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of support from friends and family in this. But hearing it from someone you just met, who is basing their opinions on what they have heard about you, learned from you, and seen how you interact with the people you want to be reaching... that really warmed my heart.


He's also helped me figure out my 'religious stand. while we were @replying last night (I'm not really sure if that's what it's called- I'm still learning this Twitter stuff). Instead of the 'he said this, and then i said' I'm just going to copy our conversation here.

@daynuhrose13 Hello Ms. "D" thanks for following me. I am curious about your curiosity.

(i thought he was talking about my blog)

@From_Nothing well, it's not much but you're more than welcome to read.

@daynuhrose13 of course, but I was curious if you have a particular philosophy or tenet like agnosticism or atheism or something else?

@From_Nothing I dunno. I just kinda figure, be a good person, live a good life, don't kick puppies, and we'll see what happens in the end.

@daynuhrose13 That sounds just about right. Quite a nice philosophy to live by... :)

@From_Nothing thanks. I have struggling with this thought process for a while.

@daynuhrose13 I have wrestled with for 45 years. It is something I love to explore. I thought Pat said you were not a believer. Very cool.

@From_Nothing He means specifically in God. and as for that, I don't know. I don't want to wonder HOW we're here... just embrace that we are

@daynuhrose13 you've got it boiled down to the important parts.

 

 

And there you have it. 5 tweets to me and I feel better about my "belief struggle" because I'm not struggling anymore. 

 

If you're not already, you should follow @From_Nothing on twitter or befriend Revolución MacInnes on Facebook. 

Help him change lives and in the meantime, go out and change some on your own.